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3 ways homebuyer education benefits mortgage professionals and borrowers

We all remember buying our first home.

It’s hard to forget the excitement and the novelty of the experience. Just as memorable are the difficult lessons learned in the process. For some of us, the experience was a tough teacher because we got the test first and the knowledge afterward.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Investing in homebuyer education helps your clients build a solid foundation for a lifetime of sustainable homeownership. Plus, it makes the buying process easier – and more fun. 

According to a National Association of Realtors report, 47 percent of buyers begin their homeownership journey by browsing for houses online. While there’s nothing wrong with looking, leaping into homeownership without the ability to make informed decisions invites trouble. REALTORS®, lenders, and other industry professionals play a pivotal role in helping buyers get started on the right track. One way to do that is by recommending a homebuyer education course like Finally Home!®.

When you encourage customers to take a homebuyer education course, you:

  • Help secure their financial future: Industry professionals know that homeownership is important for building long-term wealth. The financial literacy and other skills acquired in a homebuyer education course helps buyers make smart decisions for a lifetime.
  • Foster long-term loyalty: Your clients rely on your expertise and your advice at every step of the homebuying journey. Education from an independent, reputable source broadens a buyer’s knowledge and reinforces your role as a trusted resource. Clients won’t forget the confidence they have in you, especially when they transition from first-time buyer to move-up buyer.
  • Open doors for you and your clients: Working with first-time or would-be buyers can be a challenge. Homebuyer education ensures your customers are well-prepared and confident in their decision-making, which leads to smoother purchase processes. For those who are on the brink of buying, homebuyer education enhances their chances of qualifying for a loan.  

A small investment in homebuyer education will pay big dividends for you and your customers.

Interested in learning more about Finally Home! homebuyer education? Your first-time homebuyers can get started at finallyhome.org. If you’d like to preview the course, email support@finallyhome.org for a complimentary code for industry professionals. 

The opinions and insights expressed in this Q&A are solely those of Heather Bowman and do not necessarily represent the views of either Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation or any of its parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries (collectively, “MGIC”). Neither MGIC nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents makes any representations or warranties of any kind regarding the soundness, reliability, accuracy or completeness of any opinion, insight, recommendation, data, or other information contained in this blog, or its suitability for any intended purpose.

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Heather Bowman

Heather Bowman, Manager – Finally Home!® Education & Housing Counseling

Heather Bowman is the Finally Home! Manager, responsible for leading the development of education and counseling services for Finally Home’s! premier online homebuyer education course and network of housing counselors. Heather is dedicated to empowering renters, first-time buyers, and existing homeowners to reach their housing goals and find financial stability in the place they call home.

Heather’s career has focused on housing education.  With a strong academic base, she is a certified distance education instructor and holds bachelor’s degrees in sociology and communication from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in public administration from Boise State University.  When she’s not working, Heather enjoys spending time with her family exploring the great outdoors.

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